Four-weight world champion Garcia is no longer recognised as the WBC lightweight titleholder after vacating the belt.

However, his new Emeritus Champion status means he will be granted an immediate title shot once he chooses to return to the lightweight division.

Mikey Garcia has vacated the WBC lightweight belt after being named Emeritus Champion

A statement released by the WBC read: "This designation is an honour that has been granted to a few exceptional elite champions, which allows them to resolve specific situations, which prevent them to actively defend their WBC world championship.

"Mikey Garcia is a multiple division world champion and is a role model who represents the best of boxing inside and outside the ring.

"Mikey has been competing in three different categories and the WBC has decided to grant him the Emeritus designation, which will allow him to return to the lightweight division if his future decision is to compete in this weight category.

Garcia lost to Errol Spence Jr at welterweight last month

"The WBC is very proud of Mikey Garcia and his valiant efforts to prove his greatness inside the ring at all times.

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"The WBC Board of Governors will review the lightweight division to order a fight for the WBC lightweight world championship involving mandatory challenger Luke Campbell in the coming days."

Zaur Abdullaev, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, and Javier Fortuna complete the top five ranked challengers in the WBC division, while Campbell could potentially be ordered to meet WBA and WBO titleholder Vasyl Lomachenko in a unification bout.